Great Inventions

On March 9, 1862, the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia met in the Battle of Hampton Roads—the first time ironclad vessels would engage each other in combat. For four hours the two ships pummeled one another as thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers and civilians watched from the shorelines. Although the battle ended in a draw, this engagement would change the nature of naval warfare by informing both vessel design and battle tactics.

From the computer to the coat hanger, the world is simply unimaginable without certain items. Stop taking all that you enjoy for granted, step behind the curtain of boring, everyday existence, and discover a vibrant realm filled with genius and illumination. Who Made That? brings together history's very best tales of innovation, providing endless inspiration to those who seek to launch their own revolution.

The best book on the 20th Century. Read up on the most important people, events and stories with this book. Download your copy today!

The Industrial Revolution was a period of shift in Britain, continental Europe, and the USA from around 1760 until at some point between 1820 and 1840, when new production innovations were introduced. The shift from hand to device production, new chemical and iron production strategies, increased use of steam and waterpower, the development of device tools, and the rise of the mechanized factory system were all part of this change. The Industrial Revolution also introduced a period of remarkable population growth.

Rail transport, which was created by Stephenson and was a crucial element of the Industrial Revolution, was just one of the most essential innovative developments of the 19th century. The Mobility No. 1 was the first steam engine to transport guests on a public railway, the Stockton and Darlington Train, in 1825. It was built by George and his child Robert's company, Robert Stephenson and Business.